Customer Reviews

A Year with Rumi: Daily Readings

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Coleman Barks is a poet, and his treatments of Rumi bring that poetry into a contemporary context. Like everything that is not pure science, these things are, of course, matters of taste. I am not a Farsi scholar or speaker, but as I understand it - and this is fairly often discussed/hotly debated - the complexities of Sufi poetry in the original languages make it pretty much untranslatable. Here is part of Robet Bly's excellent review of Barks' work, he expresses it so well:

"Rumi has, to the recent amazement of many people in the Western culture as well as the Islamic culture, been able to speak directly to contemporary readers. One of the greatest pieces of good luck that has happened recently in American poetry is Coleman Barks's agreement to translate poem after poem of Rumi. Rumi, like Kabir, is able to contain and continue intricate theological arguments and at the same time speak directly from the heart or to the heart. Coleman's exquisite sensitivity to the flavor and turns of ordinary American speech has produced marvelous lines, full of flavor and Sufi humor, as well as the intimacy that is carried inside American speech at its best."
--Robert Bly

If the Barks translations speak to you, you'll likely love having a daily meditation book, which this is.

Each day's reading has multiple levels to try to comprehend. Lots of fodder for thought and discussion. It would be fun to sit down at dinner each night and have a family discussion about that day's poem.

While Coleman Barks is to be commended for introducing many people to Rumi, his renditions of Rumi's poems scarcely reflect the original Persian. Barks, who does not speak Persian (another word for Farsi), took much better translations for AJ Arberry, and rephrased them for his books. In the process, he lost much of the accuracy and most of the character of the original poetry. Those interested in better translations of Rumi should get a hold of Reynold Nicholson's or AJ Arberry's translations.

I love this book - Coleman Barks does a wonderful job of translating Rumi's poems. I am enjoying working my way through the year!

A wonderful reminder of our place in this universe with insights that help unravel the tightly woven web we weave.

A little Rumi every day is very good for the soul. This English version of Rumi's poetry captures the essence of the original Farsi text.

"A Year with Rumi" is an excellent collection of the mystic poet's work, translated by renowned Rumi expert Coleman Barks. It is arranged as a series of daily readings, and I've found it to be a great source of inspiration each new day.

I love reading a passage every day. The only thing is, sometimes there are references to people I've never heard of and probably never will. Nevertheless, it is beautiful poetry that softens your heart and makes you think. If you love love, this book will add to your life. It makes a great gift.

This is a delightful book that takes up the intricacies of Sufi poetry and translates them by producing a modern work. Coleman understands Rumi and has been able to interpret his emotions and thoughts in a wonderful manner. Many kudos to him.

Honoring the great Sufi tradition, Coleman Barks translates Rumi in a way that anyone with a spiritual side can appreciate. I particularly appreciate this edition for Barks' editorial comments and for the volume of poetry. A great introduction to Rumi and Sufism.